Scientists Decode Earth's Ice Age Cycles Tied to Orbital Shifts
New research reveals predictable patterns in Earth's glacial cycles, with human-driven climate change likely altering the planet's natural trajectory.
- Researchers analyzed a million-year climate record, linking Earth's ice age cycles to changes in its orbit, axial tilt, and wobble.
- The study identifies how specific orbital factors drive the onset and end of glacial and interglacial periods over tens of thousands of years.
- Without human influence, Earth's next ice age would likely begin in approximately 10,000 to 11,000 years, according to the findings.
- Human greenhouse gas emissions are disrupting these natural cycles, with potential long-term impacts on global climate stability.
- The research provides a framework for predicting future climate changes by comparing natural patterns with human-induced alterations.
ScienceAlert 
New Scientist 